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Hello, and welcome to our liveblog on an important night for Martin O’Neill and the Ireland team.
No news on the teams yet, but interestingly, in tonight’s other game, it’s Georgia 0-0 Poalnd at half-time.
It could be a big boost for Ireland if the Poles fail to emulate their win in Tbilisi, and the hosts have gone close to scoring on a few occasions, though Poland have hit the woodwork as well.
(Ireland and Scotland supporters in Glasgow ahead of tonight’s game)
Unfortunately for Ireland, it’s now Poland 1-0 Georgia.
Kamil Glik has given the visitors the lead.
We’ve obviously had extensive build-up coverage of this game in recent days. Linked below are some articles you may have missed.
- ‘We were just happy to get tickets’ – Ireland fans soak up the atmosphere in Glasgow
- Letter from Glasgow: The calm before the storm on what’s sure to be a special night
- What are the Scottish media saying about tonight’s Euro 2016 qualifier?
- Jeff Hendrick: Why Ireland’s form midfielder should start against Scotland
- 8 things that were true the last time that Ireland and Scotland played competitively
- Local derby feel as Ireland and Scotland know each other all too well
- ‘Here’s what the Ireland starting XI to face Scotland tonight should be’
- Poll: How confident are you ahead of tonight’s game against Scotland?
- Analysis: How the Republic of Ireland can beat Scotland
- O’Neill: Keane incident was a distraction, but it’s over
- 5 talking points ahead of tomorrow’s all-important Scotland-Ireland game
- Scottish quartet will cause Ireland real problems, says skipper Brown
- ‘It’s not going to be Celtic Park. Tomorrow, it will be Scotland’s park’ – Strachan
- ‘It’s just another game’ – Aiden McGeady on Scotland clash
Krychowiak puts Poland 2-0 up, before Milik makes it 3-0.
15 minutes remain but it’s effectively all over now.
The Scotland team for tonight is as follows:
Marshall, Whittaker, R.Martin, Hanley, Robertson, Maloney, Mulgrew, Brown (c), S.Fletcher, Naismith, Anya.
James Morrison is injured, with Charlie Mulgrew coming into the team.
Big talking point in bringing in Shane Long. Here’s the full team.
“The players are confident and we’re all confident that we can win the game,” Martin O’Neill tells RTÉ.
He says Robbie Keane will be “chomping at the bit” to get on, and neglects to reveal what position Aiden McGeady will be starting in.
According to Sky, Martin O’Neill has a slightly better managerial record than Gordon Strachan statistically.
Eamon Dunphy on THAT decision: “It’s a big call and it’s the right call, it’s a brave call.”
More reaction here.
Good one Gary!
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Good positive start from Ireland.
Walters has just tested Marshall with a pot shot, while moments before, James McClean blasted a free-kick straight into the wall.
Now Scotland get a chance, as Steven Fletcher heads over from a well-delivered corner.
It’s being played at a very high tempo, as you’d expect.
Aiden McGeady is getting booed every time he touches it, unsurprisingly.
Meanwhile, Seamus Coleman has started well, showing he has the pace to match Scotland’s dangerous winger Ikechi Anya.
The ball drops on the edge of the box to Gibson, but his shot isn’t powerful enough to trouble Marshall.
Shortly thereafter, Hanley is lucky to escape with only a yellow after taking down Long, who was through on goal (though the ball was well ahead of him).
Long’s had a good start to this game.
He’s clearly working hard off the ball, and is holding it up well too.
Twitter is not happy about that rather lenient decision earlier!
John O’Shea isn’t happy with Steven Naismith amid suggestions that he threw an elbow.
Shortly thereafter, he heads the Everton striker’s cross away for a corner.
The Irish fans are impressively vocal, given that they are few and far between if reports are to be believed.
They’re currently loudly chanting McGeady’s name.
McClean does well to block a cross, but then frustratingly runs it out of play.
Scotland have had the better possession and territory so far, though Ireland continue to look a threat on the counter-attack.
Jeff Hendrick has just been booked for a poor high tackle on Whittaker.
At the moment, a red card looks almost inevitable at some point.
Good cross by Maloney and Mulgrew heads just wide.
Scotland are well in the ascendancy now.
Agree?
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Maloney does well to get a cross in, but the onrushing Fletcher can’t connect.
Scotland are getting closer as Ireland continue to toil.
A long ball comes to Long, but the striker’s cross goes straight out of play.
Ireland, it’s fair to say, has been fairly mediocre in the final third so far.
So 0-0 at half-time, but Scotland’s dominance increased as the half wore on.
One or two decent chances went begging for the hosts, while Martin O’Neill’s men have offered little in the final third, as hard as Long and Walters have worked.
Ireland have defended well under intense pressure, but they’ll certainly be happy to get a point from this game based on how the first half has panned out.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the group…
Good, patient build-up play by Ireland at the start of the half.
McGeady looks like he could be operating more centrally now, with Walters on the wing.
Robertson overhits a pass to Naismith and the ball goes harmlessly out of play, causing more frustration for Scotland.
The Irish side continue to look well organised at the back, while looking quite ineffectual up front.
However, as I type, McGeady plays in a great cross and Walters’ header is deflected over.
Chance for Ireland! Walters heads on from a corner but Long’s header is too weak to trouble Marshall.
Meanwhile, Scotland make a change, with Chris Martin (the Derby player, not the Coldplay singer) replacing Fletcher.
Another chance! The ball is only half cleared and McGeady’s volley from just inside the box is parried wide by Marshall.
The subsequent corner by McClean is straight into the goalkeeper’s arms. Ireland’s set pieces have been very disappointing this evening.
Ireland well on top now.
Marshall does well to collect a McGeady cross under pressure from the Ireland attackers.
Brilliant!
Decent spell of possession for Scotland ends when Naismith finds Martin with a cross and the Derby man’s cross goes just wide of the post.
With just under half an hour to go, this game really could go either way.
Anya causes problems for Coleman again before overhitting his cross.
Ireland’s first substitutions are made — Long and Gibson are replaced by Quinn and Brady.
Brady immediately gets in behind the Scottish defence, but it’s headed clear for a corner.
Still no sign of Robbie Keane coming on, as Ireland look to be content enough with a point.
The corner is easily cleared away, before Roy Keane argues with the referee on the sideline.
Great goal from a Scotland perspective but poor by Ireland.
Maloney plays a one-two from a corner, before nutmegging Hendrick and curling the ball beautifully into the net.
Robbie Keane is on for Ireland.
Jeff Hendrick, who hasn’t had the best of nights, has gone off.
Good play from Keogh, who collects a loose ball an wins a free kick in a dangerous area.
Brady’s subsequent free kick is headed away for a corner.
Keogh collides with Marshall as he collects Brady’s corner.
The Scottish players are not happy but there wasn’t much in that.
Ireland produce pass after pass but McGeady, in particular, dwells on the ball, and fails to get a shot away.
Eventually the opportunity dissipates and Scotland clear it.
Coleman is very lucky to get away with a second yellow.
He commits a lunge on his opponent, but the referee plays advantage, and the Everton man gets away with it.
Quinn commits another bad challenge in this fiery game and gets booked.
There’ll be four minutes of stoppage time.
Drama as a Scottish player hits his own crossbar from a dangerous free kick in before it’s cleared…
So that’s that, and it’s a fairly disappointing night for Martin O’Neill and Ireland.
Scotland’s 1-0 victory was ultimately deserved, as the hosts looked sharper and passed the ball better for the most part.
Ireland came close to scoring at the end, but for the most part, chances were few and far between, as the visitors struggled to create chances and to control the play.
Maloney’s moment of genius won it, but it was hardly fitting in a game that was short on quality otherwise.
Was just talking to my brother in Glasgow and there is a party atmosphere over there. COYBIG!!!!
So jealous
Hope McGeady scores a belter to shut those scots up!
McGeady is shocking. And is treading a very fine line on that yellow. Pretty poor game so far to be honest. We need to start playing a bit of football instead of hoofing it up to Long. Midfield is been over ran. Only positive is our central defence.
You said it Del boy
Hoping for a good Ireland performance and win If possible which I think can be done
I’ve stopped liking Scots since they decided they’re Brits :-)
Muppet
Come on ireland.Time to clean those jocks!.
Beat the shit out of them.
COYBIG from New Zealand!
It’s half seven tomorrow morning in New Zealand, who won Emmett, go on tell us.
2-1 Ireland!
Your as sound , thanks.
Was watching the wrong game!
Coybig
Let’s top the group
Woop woop! !
It’s half 5 in the morning here in Australia and I’m wondering is there any free web sites I can see the game. Should be a cracker.
If you have foxtel it’s on ESPN 1, channel 508 I think……
Try mobdro
Hope you get to see it. What an atmosphere. 3000 fans my arse it sounds like 30000. Every one of them however many they are deserve to have their tickets refunded by the fai. What support please god we get the result they deserve. COYBIG
Does help that the commentators microphones are right next to the irish fans
Thanks for that boys but still can’t get it, Apple really needs to get flash player.
Go to bed it’s shite
8 in the morning ere.
Front row sports have it and I watched in Nairobi on my macbook…..just so that you know in future…..all sports are broadcast free on the web with that site…..
Give em hell lads! COYBIG!
Come on eire
No Robbie Keane. Lol.
They had a chance to be a nation again but they bottled it..They shouldn’t really singing flower of Scotland.
Trap wouldn’t have lost that
Scotland deserve it on balance.
Guys, just so you know, you are allowed to kick the ball along the ground.
O’Neill is clearly not confident that the players can pass it around. If he isn’t, then clearly nothing has changed. i honestly thought the team has been getting better, but the hideous long balls are a joke.
C’mon Ireland!!!Shut them up
COYBIG from the 2015 AFCON host nation of Equatorial Guinea!
Ireland are shite
The “brits” aren’t much better :-D
Im not a brit ya bellend
Fuppin’ power cut- pub it is so!
And you’re complaining why Don??? He he
An absolutely pathetic, clueless performance. We were out thought and out fought in every area. Scotland, a team with players of a similar level to us were miles ahead of us.
Hardly mile ahead. Two reams intent on lumping it. Only bit of clever play brought the goal. We will have them in Lansdowne
Who are we kidding, Gibson is only okay and he’s not fully fit, hendricks is hardly world class. charley mulgrew and Scott Brown have played in the champions league, are well experienced and can play ball
The Scots are all over us to be fair. Half time can’t come quick enough.
That scots full back Robertson has been very impressive
Great player,and only 20yr old
When you make Scotland look like Germany, you know you’re really shite. Fair play Scotland, by far the better team. Reality check for Ireland.
Hey scotland i cant wait to see your players from england playing for scotland getting abuse oh wait they wont cause their shit
Definitely think we can get the win tonight. Let’s hope it lives up to the hype.
Ward is not a footballer
Why do we insist of hoofing the ball forward and giving away easy ball. We need to get the ball down and hold onto it a bit better.
When we do play the ball to feet, we do well to complete 3 or 4 passes in a row. We just don’t have the players to play that kind of game. Breaking balls around the box and set-piece is our only hope really.
Mcgeady is piss poor crowd have got to him
I wish Anya would go back to singing Orinoco Flow….im sick of the sight of him in this game.
Ref needs to get a grip before theres a serious injury
I hate dirty jocks
Then wash them Roland
Absolutely cracking goal Scotland
Savage atmosphere, feels like an old firm derby.
There better then us! Changes needed
Can’t understand the logic of leaving Walters on and taking Long off…. He’s doing nothing up front.
Long did even less somehow…..utter muck all round!!
Made no sense leaving Walters on, the man has a huge heart, will try and try but he was getting no where up front. our midfield was poor, Gibson ain’t fully fit, where are all the whelan haters now?
I got castigated on here a few weeks ago for saying that it would be typical of Ireland to draw with the world champions and then go and lose to the mighty Scotland. I hope people took my advice and backed Scotland to win or draw. I was telling ye all week that it would be the easiest money you were ever going to make.
Well done you we’ll get you a nice shiny trophy
@Conor, I’ve just sorted out my xmas fund so it was worth it
I presume I’m on your list ! Enjoy
Poor performance so far by Ireland, we beed to seriously improve in the second half.
Ill say that hanley is gone soon
He’s an animal
Head on him
Ah roland he wouldn’t last 10 mins on a Sunday morning up the phoenix park
Marking is fking shocking absolutely shocking
boring as fook :(
Thought it was very lively, frantic stuff myself. Our midfield not near good enough
Scotland ahead on points after the first half. Fletcher could have had 3. McGeady is trying too hard and could get himself sent off if he doesnt cool it. I can see O’Neill taking him off shortly into the 2nd half. Gibson and Hendrick arent getting onto the ball, both have been poor. Coleman is struggling. Its all very hectic. Im worried. Keogh and O’Shea have been good and Walters is working hard.
McClean’s a liability in possession.
Why did that traitor Keane walk out in Saipan. We will NEVER have a chance like that again …
Never. Never
Liverpool fans never stop going on about Saipan #timetomoveon ;-)
Scotland to win 2-0
After hearing weeks of Irish over confidence and staying quiet. I’ll now happily say ” Get it right yeez !!!!”
Why do Ireland always approach a game in a defensive mindset. Has O Neill being watching too much Donegal football. OK the odd time you will get lucky but in general you will get a result like we got tonight.
O Shea last minute goal to save us
They sucked me in tonight,but no harm being reminded why you don’t watch Ireland trying to play football.22 pig farmers kicking the ball long for 90 minutes.Fitting that the one moment of quality resulted in a goal.
Agree. Roy would have been better sub than Robbie, if only for entertainment value.
Was only just thinking during game how much I’d love to have seen Roy coming on there, time and aging is so cruel
Bragging rights to us scots for all those who were slating me with derogatory comments in previous posts GET IT RIGHT UP YEZ. Ireland a friendly nation my arse still bitter with the past and think every scotsman is a brit yez haven’t a clue. Mon the tartan army. Lmfao.
Well said
Scots are Brits, just as Welsh are and the breton of the West Country, same with Brittany. it’s the Anglo saxons that’s are germánic not British. Brittania was a céltic province that Rome tried to colonise
Scots are very anti-Irish ….sickening to say the least .
Excuse me other way around you think we are all brits you tw@t
How do you make that out? They’re our cousins, our brethren.. This was only a game of football, blood is thicker than water.
Lived and worked in Dublin for 14years.married an irish lassie.im very anti irish me.NOT.so dont know where u get your facts from.if anything id say irish are anti scots.thats down to narrow minds and ignorance.
Efin Scots, good goal but at the end of the day, one country fought for freedom , the other voted against it.
Fanny
Well done to our forefathers #ALBA, from the GAWA, hands across the water.
? Are we not their forefathers?
Coybin
Refs a plonker
Refs a plonker, that looks like Aengus MacGrianna